Bishop warns against playing politics with Oyo kidnapping, says abduction despicable

Williams Aladekugbe, the Archbishop of Ibadan Province, Anglican Communion, has described the abduction of staff and pupils of some schools in Oriire local government Area of Oyo State and some citizens around Idi Ayunre as ungodly, immoral and criminal, saying the matter should never be politicised.

The clergyman condemned what he described as the politics people are attaching to the incident as well as its religious colouration into the governance of the state.

Aladekugbe who is the Bishop of Ibadan North Diocese in a statement he personally signed said aside the fact that he received the news with a rude shock,noted the act is despicable and barbaric to say the least.

While condemning the death of innocent people the incident left in its trail, particularly the gruesome murdering of the Mathematics teacher, sympathized with Governor Seyi Makinde and the families of the deceased.

The cleric however called on government at all levels to collaborate in securing the quick release of the innocent children and their teachers.

He appealed to politicians to play their game with the fear of God in mind, noting that all will stand before the judgement seat of God to account for their deeds someday.

“The news of the abduction of the staff and pupils of some schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and some citizens in CRIN came to us as a rude shock. We join millions of well meaning and patriotic citizens of Oyo State in particular and the nation in general to condemn the despicable act. It is barbaric to say the least.

“The abduction of innocent teachers and pupils in their schools can not be justified by any standard. We condemn in strong terms the killing of one of the teachers (Mathematics teacher). It is ungodly, immoral and criminal.

“We sympathize with our amiable Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the government and the good people of Oyo State over this unfortunate incident. We request all levels of government to collaborate in securing the quick release of these innocent children and their teachers.

“We stand with Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State. We condemn in its entirety the politics people bring into it and all forms of religious coloration into the governance of the State. Politics should be played with the fear of God in mind as we will all stand before the judgement seat of God to account for our deeds.”

He urged the government to consider having a profile of all foreigners in the state with the aim of fishing out anyone with dubious character and intention. He said criminals should be dealt with according to the laws of the land.

“As we stated in our Presidential Charge at the just concluded Synod, all foreigners in the state should be properly profiled and anyone with dubious character/intention should be returned to their states of origin or dealt with according to the laws of the land.

“We plead with governments at all levels to invest more on security as there is no substitute for lives. We equally call on politicians of all political parties not to play their dirty politics with this issue.

“Insecurity does not have regard for any party. The incident on hand is not a product of any political party. We all can attest to the fact that the government of Engr. Seyi Makinde has been a government of seven years of impactful and people oriented governance.

“Our heartfelt sympathy goes to those abducted and their families. Our prayer is that the Almighty God Himself will intervene in their situation and free them, and ensure the security of the state and the nation.”